Two LGBTQ swimmers from Uganda who are competing at the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championships (IGLA) say they feel “safe and free” in Edmonton, a week after police raided a pride event in that country’s capital.
Late last Thursday, police in Uganda broke up a fashion show underway at a nightclub. About 20 people were arrested. Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda under a colonial-era law that prohibits sex acts “against the order of nature.”
READ MORE: Pride event in Uganda disrupted by police; leaders briefly detained
Adebayo Katiiti, 22, was at the event as a judge. Katiiti, a transgender man who is gay, was named Mr. Gay Pride last year and was supposed to be handing the crown to the new titleholder when police stormed the club.
“I was on the runway modelling. The police came in. They started grabbing people, beating trans women, beating trans men, beating us up.”
“They arrested some of us. The police, they checked us, touching our private parts, seeing whether we are men or women. It was really too much. It was frustrating,” Katiiti said.
Katiiti said the experience was terrifying, particularly because, while he came out to friends in 2013, family members do not yet know about his sexual orientation.
“I know my brother and my sister, they’re so homophobic. I don’t know what will happen. I used to get calls threatening me, ‘You are a gay person, you are promoting homosexuality, the moment we get you, you see.’”
“It was really scary. Even up to now, I’m so scared whenever I think about it. I even dream about it. It’s always on my mind,” Katiiti said.
The swimmer will be competing in the butterfly, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and individual medley events during IGLA. He is taking in Canada’s attitudes and feelings towards those who are LGBTQ.
“I feel safe and free when I’m here in Canada. I just want to thank you for the spirit you have – for not being discriminative. We are who we are. I am who I am. I’m not going to change,” Katiiti said.
The swimmer said, despite what may happen in Uganda, there are no plans to back down from advocating for the LGBTQ community.
“I’m a trans man who likes women. It’s not going to change. I’m proud of who I am.”
Teammate Diane Bakuraira, 36, said she has also faced violence in Uganda because of her sexual orientation.
Bakuraira said she was attacked last October while on her way to a friend’s house.
Bakuraira said those who are LGBTQ often need to be extra aware of their surroundings.
“You can’t go out openly and speak on TV because of family fear, because of your neighbourhood. Once you come out, your community will be like, ‘This person is weird, we don’t need you around.’”
The swimmer has competed locally but said discrimination is commonplace. This is her first appearance at IGLA, where she will be competing in the freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly events.
“It feels good. For me right now, I’m just taking advantage of whatever space I get. If I meet people, express myself and no one has a problem with that, that’s fine,” Bakuraira said.
The 36-year-old said there are no plans to stop speaking out and advocating for LGBTQ rights in Uganda.
Uganda’s government said it “will continue to suppress” the public activities of homosexuals it believes are promoting their sexuality.
Aug. 4: Next week, Edmonton will welcome over 400 LGBTQ athletes from 10 countries to compete in the International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics Championships. IGLA Co-Chair Mike Stansberry tells us more.
IGLA runs at the Kinsmen Sports Centre until Aug. 14.
With files from Associated Press.